HOLISTIC LIVING FOR PETS AND PEOPLE
Levels of Judgement
Michio Kushi set out his Seven Levels
of Judgement as part of the Macrobiotic philosophy and that offers
us a framework for choices in holistic living especially in selecting
food for ourselves and our pets. Here we will consider only four
levels.
The lowest level is Mechanical.
This is the level at which simple
life-forms operate. At this level, selection of food is instinctive
and automatic. Anything which can be recognised as food will be
consumed. Higher animals, even humans, select food at this level
under certain circumstances, e.g. when starving anything will
be acceptable. This is the level which is being exercised when
we buy food because it is cheap or convenient. This is most common
where cost is an important consideration, such as in kennels or
catteries or in a household where there is little affection for
the pet.
The next level of judgement is Sensory.
This is generally the highest level at which most animals can
make choices. Decisions are more selective and are based on the
senses. Humans rely mainly on the sense of taste whereas dogs
and cats rely mainly on their sense of smell. Pet owners often
complain that the pet is fussy or prefers a certain brand of food.
Pet food manufacturers appeal to this by emphasising how appealing
the food is. Think of the adverts – “nine out of ten
cats prefer…”
The next level is Intellectual. Here,
decisions are more carefully reasoned. Animals cannot reason at
this level so we, as human, have to exercise judgement on their
behalf. We may avoid certain foods because we think they are potentially
unhealthy e.g. they contain artificial ingredients or are high
in fat. Or we may have found through experience that our health
or that of a pet has been affected by food.
The fourth level of judgement is
Social. At this level we are conscious of the impact our choices
have on society as a whole. We may purchase locally grown produce
to support local business; we may buy Fair Trade products to support
Third World producers. Or we may choose free range because of
concerns about animal welfare or non genetically modified because
of concerns about the environment.
The higher the level of judgement
we exercise, the wider the view and the more “holistic”
our thinking and life become. Our choices, taken for more holistic
reasons will include more than one level of judgement.
For example, we may choose to eat
organic food because of the impact on the environment (social),
because we think it is better for our health (intellectual) or
because we think it tastes better (sensory).
Common pet health problems
John Burns Pet Health Management
Programme